St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1887-03-19
MOPPET'S VALENTINE.

MoPPET'S VALENTINE.
Who Gave lt to "D0vsy Dlanoad?"
Oh! ohy' said Moppet. with a soft
little sigh. II wish I'd have one. l
never had one longs I've lived-not
an honest-truly one, you know"
"Yes, l know" said mamma. smil-
ing. She had been reading Moppet .
nice little valentine story from one Of
Moppet's own papers, which somebody
was kind enough to send her-a story
Of a lovely valentine that one little girl
sent another little girl to make up
friends again.
Il shouldn't think she could have
been mad any more, should you man,
ma?" asked Moppet, eagerly. "'Cause
twas so pretty-all posies and every
thing! Don't you s'posc twas Orde
pretty. mamma?'
81 would't wonder, DEAR" mamma
answered. putting down the paper and
taking up her work. But MOppet
wasn't through yet.
Ibid You ever see one. mamma?''
Eyes, dear, a long time ago; but it
wasn't like that, I guess.
Moppet looked sober.
Il didn't ever much as sec one, only
what you made, mamma" she said.
81 didn't ever see a boughted one"
That was very true, because in the
little out-of-the-way town where Mop
pet had lived ever since she was baby
people never thought Of such . thing
as sending . valentine. I don't believe,
IL you had shown one to Mr.. Prime. who
kept the village store. he would have
known what it was even. So there
were none to buy. II there had been.
Moppet's mother would have bought
one-one that didn't cost too much.
And it was quite too late to send for
one now.
Il guess you'll get one next year,"
said she.
But the next year was q long time
of. and the thot ght of what might pos
sibly happen then wasn't much Of .
comfort to Moppet
IL wish could tomorrow, she said,
soberly.
Mamma didn't believe she could. but
you wouldn't have caught her saying
so. She smiled, and began counting
the stitches on the heel of Moppet's
little red stocking. just then Mr..
Frazer took his pipe out Of his mouth.
Mr.. Frazer was tin-peddler man. who
often stopped there for dinner, and
sometimes for an after. dinner smoke.
He was very pleasant-looking man.
Moppet thought. and he almost always
brought her an apple or . piece Of candy
when he came.
so you never had valentine. eh?''
he asked.
mo. sir" said Moppet. bashfully.
''And never saw one? Well! we'll!
now that's dreadful pityr'
Mr.. Frazer's eyes twinkled. Was he
laughing at her? Moppet wondered.
But before she could quite settle the
matter in her own mind, she heard =
little tap at the window.
"Oh, it's Dovey Diamond!' she cried.
forgetting for the moment every thing
but her pretty drab and white pet out
side. .And he's come after his din
ner."
So Moppet opened the window. and
got a handful Of crumbs. and fed the
dove half Of them. and left the other
half on the table.
And nobody but Betty. the cat, saw
Mr.. Fraser put those crumbs into his
great-coat pocket when he was ready to
start. And Betty didn't tell; though
NAV be she wondered what he meant to
do with them.
Goodbye" he sang out to Moppet.
after he had harnessed his gray horse
into his red pung. ''Look out for the
valentine, now"
And then Moppet felt very sure he
was laughing at her, and she hated
dreadfully to be laughed at. But the
the next morning she had something
else to think about Dovey Diamond
didn't come to his breakfast He didn't
come to his dinner, either"
Where do you s'pose he is. mammal"
asked Moppet, the tears just ready to
fall. "He's always come before every
day this winter. o mamma! do you
s'pose somebody's c-caught him, and
baked him in . p-piee"
mo. no. dear. guess not"
''Then where is he. mammal"
II don't know, my child"
Then Moppet curled herself upon the
lounge and had just begun to cry in
good earnest, when TAP! tap! tapr'
came y sharp little beak against the
window. She sprang up. almost wild
with JOY.
"Oh. it's Doveyr' she cried. flying
to the window. 20 mamma, come
quick! What is that he's got on. NAM
ma? Oh, lOOk!'
Mamma didn't need to look-she
knew without looking
II guess" said she, smiling, II
guess It's IN honest-trulv valentine,
deag."